"It is time for artists to have a strong collective voice to stand up for their interests," stated Brian Message of Courtyard Management, which manages Radiohead and Kate Nash. "The digital landscape is changing fast and new deals are being struck all the time, but all too often without reference to the people who actually make the music. Just look at the recent [agreement] on file-sharing between labels, government and the ISPs. Artists were not involved. The Featured Artists' Coalition will help all artists, young and old, well-known or not, drive overdue change through the industry in their interests and those of fans."

Artists stand as much or more to lose than other elements of the music industry if anti-fan policies gradually drive people away from thinking of music as an art form that's important in its own right and not just as a way to sell body spray or enhance videos. It only makes sense that they should have a say when policies are enacted to restrict music from being shared online, among other important decisions.

The organization set itself three primary goals for its campaigning: artists should retain "ultimate ownership" of their music, agreements between artists and others should be made in a "fair and transparent manner" and copyright holders (i.e. record labels) must keep artists' interests in mind and must explain how any agreement could change the ways in which their creations are exploited.

Part of the problem, according to Damon Gough (a.k.a. Badly Drawn Boy), is that many of the institutions that have traditionally represented artists are crumbling. "I think with the digital age and record companies dispersing and disbanding, young bands need a governing voice that will support them and help protect their work," he told The Guardian.

Radiohead and the other artists who have signed the charter will apparently have a hand in running the organization.

"The Featured Artists' Coalition is an organization for artists, which will be run by artists," stated The Verve manager Jazz Summers. "It will ensure that in future the voice of artists is properly heard in discussions with music and technology companies, trade organizations and most importantly, with Government... Digital technology gives artists the opportunity to control their future -- this is the time to seize that opportunity."

Perhaps US-based artists could find reason to follow suit. With new revenue models such as the equity-sharing deals behind MySpace Music offering artists within and without the major label system the opportunity to be taken advantage of in entirely new ways, such oversight could be a welcome on these shores as well.